Battling the Lions: 1959

Compared with the gentlemanly grace of the 1950 side, the Lions of 1959 had better forwards, more dangerous backs, and a waspish attitude toward many aspects of New Zealand rugby and its referees.

The 1955 Lions were good enough to draw 2-2 in a series against the Springboks, and in 1959 they looked even stronger.

They had brilliant backs in Ken Scotland, Peter Jackson, Tony O'Reilly, David Hewitt, Bev Risman and Dickie Jeeps and forwards better-equipped to match the All Blacks than the 1950 men.

The tour started with only a loss to Otago in the first seven games.

Then came the famous first test at Carisbook, when All Black penalties defeated Lions tries.

The tourists were bitter that they should be foiled by a Dunedin referee.

From that point onward the Lions, and especially their prickly manager Alf Wilson, could see little merit in some aspects of New Zealand rugby.

Wilson started a campaign against All Black forwards being allowed to wear shoulder-pads. Complaints about the refereeing, and rough play, continued.

So it was little comfort that the All Blacks, and especially Don Clarke, should knock the middle out of their tour with an 11-8 win in the second test at Wellington and a much more decisive 22-8 win in the third at Christchurch.

The Lions thought they had the second test won, leading 8-6 with a minute to play, only to have Clarke come bursting through a backline move, diving exuberantly for the try and completing the victory with the conversion.

Ralph Caulton scored two tries at the end of the 22-8 All Black win at Christchurch.

With Risman fit enough to play at five-eighths, and their backs in fine form, the Lions were much too clever for a re-arranged All Black backline in the fourth test at Eden Park, and thoroughly deserved their win.

Will O' The Wisp Jackson danced round the All Black defence for the first Lions try, O'Reilly completed a smart move for the second, and a clever switch of play by Andy Mulligan and Risman saw the five-eighths score the third.

The Lions had a 9-6 lead but a few minutes from the end, Clarke who already had two penalties, attempted another. It was on the 25 yard line, 15 yards from touch.

The 60,000 spectators held their breath, then a sigh - of anguish or relief - seemed to sweep round the ground as the ball went outside the left upright. And then came a burst of genuine applause at the end, as the Lions had deserved some good luck on their tour.